Chicago police confirmed Monday that charges have been filed against the suspect in killing a 9-year-old girl with a shot to the head.
Michael Goodman, 43, is facing a first degree murder charge.
According to authorities, Goodman was arrested at about 9:20 p.m. Sunday in the area of the 3500 block of N. Long Ave, moments after allegedly shooting the minor, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as Serabi Medina.
Police added that Goodman was shot and had been transported to an area hospital for medical treatment. Officers also recovered a weapon at the scene.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CRIME
As previously reported, authorities responded to a call in the 3500 block of North Long Avenue in Portage Park shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday. According to the report, a suspect known to authorities approached a group of people from across the street, pulled out a gun, and shot the 9-year-old girl in the head.
The minor was taken to Stroger Hospital, but was pronounced dead.
Now at the scene there is a small altar with candles, balloons, stuffed animals and flowers honoring the little girl’s memory, a loss that is hard for parents like Edwin to imagine.
“An 8-year-old girl, a pity that gives one. That’s why I come here and I don’t know how to think and look at my daughter and put up with her and love her and every time I have time with her as if it were the last,” said Edwin, a resident of the area.
A community activist said the minor was waiting to return to school. “Her father of hers said that he loved going to school and he was looking forward to going back to school,” said Andrew Holmes.
According to authorities, shortly after the shooting, a physical altercation broke out between a man and the suspect as he tried to take the gun from him. During the dispute, the suspect was shot in the face and transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition.
“Hopefully he can live to say what and why, and find out if this was a mental disorder or what was wrong with this individual because the father said he did not know him,” said the activist.
A councilor from District 30 said that these are violent acts that continue to be repeated. “This is a repetition of what is being followed. This is not the first incident, we always hear from our children that they are being hurt for whatever reason what is it between the adults,” said Ruth Cruz, Councilmember for District 30.
On Sunday morning the officers were still investigating at the scene of the crime, for the moment charges are pending in the case.
Some neighbors expressed concern about what happened. “You get scared, because you also live here with your family and it’s difficult,” said Aldo Pérez, a resident of the area.
